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Nyeem Wartman’s ankle kept him on the sideline during the Blue-White Game earlier this month.

He doesn’t think any defensive philosophy Penn State’s new coaching staff might impose this season will keep him away from it this fall.

The redshirt sophomore from Valley View is once again in the running to earn a starting spot at outside linebacker in fall camp, which starts in August. And he insists that even with new coach James Franklin and defensive coordinator Bob Shoop running the defense, his job will remain pretty much the same if he can seize it during what is expected to be a tough competition.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a different approach,” Wartman said. “They expect the same thing as they’ve always expected out of Penn State linebackers. They expect relentless pursuit to the ball. They expect us to be pretty much the heart of the defense. We changed the way we key things with the new staff, but other than that, it’s more about relentless pursuit.”

Penn State built its Linebacker U reputation under legendary head coach Joe Paterno’s 4-3 defense over several decades, and linebackers coach Ron Vanderlinden fostered a renaissance at the position in the 2000s, with All-American-caliber players like Paul Posluszny, Dan Connor and NaVorro Bowman among the stars who rejuvenated it.

But plenty of talk has circled around what exactly Penn State fans should expect from the linebacker position as the Franklin era progresses.

For the past three seasons at Vanderbilt, the Commodores defense under Franklin and Shoop played primarily out of two-linebacker formations, with a hybrid safety/linebacker type of player who can stop the run a bit and play against the pass as well. The design of the defense was to get more speed on the field against the faster offenses in the SEC, but a funny thing happened as Franklin and Shoop used the defense more:

It became one of the better defenses in the nation.

The Commodores ranked 23rd overall last season in total defense, allowing just 354.8 yards per game.

Franklin hasn’t committed to using the same style of defense at Penn State and in the more rough-and-tumble Big Ten. He hasn’t exactly ruled it out either, though.

“I think we’re going to have to look,” Franklin said. “Is our personnel going to allow us to be able to play with a 4-3 and three true linebackers next year? Or are we going to be what we call more ‘Star,’ which is what a lot of people call nickel, where you’re playing a big safety in that position? These are all things that we are going to have to study and evaluate, not only with the production of the players who were on the field, but incoming players as well.”

With senior Mike Hull working to replace Glenn Carson in the middle, Wartman had been working at the weakside linebacker spot during spring practice until being slowed by that ankle injury. He’ll likely compete with sophomore Brandon Bell and veteran Ben Kline for the other starting spots, whether there is just one more, or two.

What may push Wartman over the top in his bid for that spot is his speed, the necessary athletic component for that relentless pursuit Franklin and Shoop demand from the linebackers. Battling through a shoulder injury, Wartman finished with 24.5 tackles, a sack and four pass break-ups -- tops among Penn State linebackers.

With the new staff expecting more blitzing from the linebackers, and pass-heavy offenses becoming the norm, Wartman’s versatility could help push him to the top.

“I’m willing to play anywhere they need me,” Wartman said. “Right now, I’m at the Will spot. But wherever they can put me where I can get the most snaps and help my teammates get a chance to win, that’s what I would want to do for this team.”

Contact the writer: dcollins@timesshamrock.com

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